Structural joint



May 4, 1937. MATTER 2,079,575

STRUCTURAL JOINT Filed May 6, 1935 Patented May 4, 1937 i l TATE r-ArEN F por'a'tion of Illinois Application May 6, 1935, Serial No. 19,953

m H Claims,

invention relates in general to a joint "'for' wooden'structures and is more particularly described in connection with a supporting horse s O h itmay have a more general 5 application wherever used. 5

important object ofthe invention is in the'provision of 'a lightweight metallic joint structure which may be applied'to and removed from the articles which it connects so I that the 10 parts maybe rapidly assembled for use and'disconnected for-packingand storage. f

1 furtherfobject of the invention is in the provision of a metallic joint member of this which is light irr'weight, compact in form,

l5andyet strong and rigid for the services inf; A still further object of the invention is in the provision of a metallic joint member in which the beams are wedged tightly in place and held against endwiseand lateral, movement and at the same time boun d together for suppartin connection. I V a A still further object of the inventionis in H theprovisionof a metallic joint member which has a gripping engagement extending lengthwise of one ormoreof 'the'beamswhich 'it connects. -0ther' objects-of "the invention are in the-proyision of beveled ends to the grippers; in pro- Tvidinga pounding lug'or 'lu'gs; inextending the g fgri'pper edges in -one or} bothfdirections from a man or intermediate -portion andjin suitably Lp roportioning the metallic joint member sothat git will have a maximum "of strength and a min- *imwntr We h Q A .j p 5 Otherobjectsof the invention will'be apparent h from the specification "and from the drawingfin f J l ,1 j Fig-l is a perspective of a supporting/horse N orftrestle embodying theinvention; j. lg; 2 is a side elevation of a metal joint In b a's p l i xi ak ii e msbe ii l 3 L a s tion h ru tu ho am v ewer themel JOietmember; 5 i sp yjb oi mgv ew p t e t iq n i a read eleva ion p tl ess of i L i i P cram- 5)" 1 I In providing a joint for beams, trestles and other structural purposes it is desirable that the metal connecting portion be both light and strong,

easily assembled and disconnected, and thatthe -connected part's are held tightly in place.

Referring more particularly to the drawing in which the invention is described 'as used in connection withahorse ori'trestle, a cross. beam E I ll is supported by legs H of stock size and material which are-connected by a joint member l2 and a fastening bolt l3.

' Theljoint member comprises a frame in which is a central opening l2 for decreasing the weight, 1 flanged ends I4, a channeled portion [5, with .inwardly extending pointed and gripping edges "l6 whichextendlalongthe channel and have a 'lbeveled. extremity IT at one or both ends so that the fitting may be applied lengthwiseto a beam Ill and forced thereon, the gripping edges -making grooves 18in the opposite sides of they member to which applied. 1 'The channeled sections preferably overlap the flanged ends l4 and below the ends of the channel are projections or bosses 20 which may be used for pounding the fitting in place or removing it" from a beam as by means. of a hammer or another suitable. implement, the bosses being provided for preventing defacement of. or damage H to the remainder of the fitting.

At. the bottom of the fitting the web 2| isreaduced between the flanges but adjacent the end flanges [4 are toothed projections 22 whichrun tintotheewedging surfaces 23 extendingto the l outer edges of the flanges l4 and at the top of the fitting just below the channel l5 are .corre sponding wedging surfaces 24 so that when a leg ll is applied to either side of the fitting itwill engage these wedging surfaces 23 and 24 and when pressed in place will be tightly con I fined therebyQand if the leg is of wood or similar.

other suitable binding means. The tooth edges,

j, 22, wi11 also engage the innersides of "the legs at adistance from, the ends so that correspondingnotchesormarks'wiH be made 'in the legs when tightly clampedin position.

The extremities of the legs engage the under-s" ,j side of the chamiel |5,-as shown more clearly fin Fig. 6, to limit their endwise movement. The legs are spaced apart by their engagement with the l" central web of the fitting ll-and the'angle of in- "clination-of'thelegs is determined by the spreadq of the toothed web 22 as compared with the thickness of the web of the fitting at the top.

In order to strengthen the channel portions at the ends where they receive the greatest strain, there is an outwardly extending flange 26 at each side of the fitting which preferably conforms to the outer surface of the legs so that it produces no unsightly bulge or projection.

For certain joints it may be desirable to provide an angular extension 30 to a central fitting 3| which conforms in other respects to the f t.- ting I2, or it may be desirable to provide such an angular extension on either or both sides thereof. With this construction the pound ng boss 20 is omitted from that end of the central member I2 and a pounding boss 32 is provided at the outer end of the angular extension 30.

In collapsing this joint or trestle the parts may be entirely separated and the joint member l2 removed therefrom or the legs may be released from their clamping engagement by loosening the nut 25 on the bolt 13 to such an extent that the legs can be moved substantially parallel with the cross member or beam l0 and the nuts 25 then left loose or tightened to hold the legs in place. In this condition the parts may be packed or piled more compactly for shipping or storage than in a setup position, and may be set up more quickly by .simply loosening the bolts {3, moving the legs to proper supporting position and tightening the bolts in place.

For greater strength and lightweight of material, .the'fitting l2 and any angular extensions thereof are preferably -T-shaped in cross section as shown more clearly in Figs. 6 and 9, and the fittings are preferably made of malleable iron or any othersuitable material which is strong and not easily broken.

I claim:

1. A metal joint member having a receivin trough with inwardly turned gripper edges applicable longitudinally to groove the opposite sides of a beam, a median web below the trough with opposite side portions to engage supports at an angleto the trough, theweb having a large opening" therein for afastening bolt inserted also through the ends of such supports for clamping them'aga inst the side portions.

A i iel i'ehi hi having a em ch e with i iwiire r t he sh p gripper edges, a median web the bottom of the'channel and wi h l i i eihehi e' fleheeifei the e f t Web e ii e hh h nds of he heh e hi h e @9 5 Pe i eih'e. e rm he e eh ih i l i we n t Chief sid the lei ee hd th end of the channel,

A tal ihim mem er having an pe i ch nnel with sharp gripper edgesbeveled at one end r appl ation n itudina ly t aa n, a 5. p- 'i ih W b x nd hthe h l h vin pounding bosses at the ends of the web adjacent the channel by means of which the fitting is applied to and removed from a beam.

i. A metal joint member having anopen channel an" integral web extending from the under side theregf, outwardly diverging inclined wedging surfapesat opposite sides of the web close to the under side of the channel and at a distance therefrom, the wedging snrfaces at a tan e th e om being heeeii e eir eh 1 n site sides of the web so that supports applied laterally thereto will be increasingly gripped at the edges when pressed inwardly and inclined to the-ehaii iel and en a th un e s de the eo and will be inclined to each other at their outer ends.

5. A structural joint member having a channeled portion with a web extending from the bottom and flanged ends, and inclined wedging portions at each side of the web adjacent the flanges for holding supporting members at the sides of the web and inclined to each other at the under side of the channel, and the outer edges of the web portion between the channel having gripper teeth for engaging the supporting members applied to the sides of the member.

5. A structural joint comprising a cross beam and supporting legs therefor, a joint member having channedportion with inwardly turned sharp'ndges to grip a beam inserted longitudinally therein, and a web portion extending from the bottom of the channel with end flanges and inc l ined surfaces adjacent the flanges for engaging a support at each side of the member and the end o t siii n i .e iita w t under side ,of the channel portion, the web having an .Qn h b t n th fl nge an a fastening bel in erte through h nds Q h iin iiie m mbers and through the said opening for bindi the sup ortin mem er t ghtl in p ac a a the edg ie r ac and h ld g em at a an l t eac th r- 1 ii s u tura oint meta J i m mb r a n an pen t h ieh w th inw d turned gripper edges a .fieihs d eb ext din hiii h he em 9 t Phh nfil nd reit r t cen ra the e fer l h ess edeihe sur a e ad a t e an es helhw h .ehhh el a d at t Oute he iisiii i th w b h 9W9? rti n of t w b also having a cross connection between the flanges W h outwardl h s-t ee en a i g sort e-ha a be .a plifig l li l flmae i a ?r. 5 9Y6 an ehee ee b th ip??? e es, fil Q lPpli e epphh e si es 9f he web with th end in QQQ YPP with the hh le ide o t e h nne rtion, their edges against the wedging portions, a d th i i-ti en a eme th the teeth P .i 1l h as n n means lhifififid thlQll t e s ii he less a d throu h th Pe r i 9f th o nt meiiih b ndi h l tightly i P a a a ns th wag ing sh ie e a d n ii wit i h d ie ih- 8. A structural joint comprising a joint memher having an open channel and an integral n e PQ Q @St dmg bfi the c ann W a he lew nte r and ih rsi el flanged l d W d H iiiie ia 5W1? l l 9 h E adjacent the end flanges and projecting teeth in the outer flange of the web, a connecting beam inserted in the channehsupporting beams ap plied laterally to the sides of the web engaging the he h hit ee s t t e e es he e o the side beams engaging the under side of the chane and the ide ef th -be nie 'eiigeigiiig the teeth e the iiii i membe I iid'a e' e i b nse t d fei e h' eri z e 'th e bers and through the joint member for binding the ends of the supporting members tightly i i i 'h we i e 'si'i es. a d" e tee h l esifi for inclining t hem to eachother at their' outer ds. A 1 V V- H A structure in @QQQBQEQQ wit 91%!! 3 which th en ng mea s ne ie h 'e bi d the supporting members against the sides eithe- Joh m m is 0 e iffieieiit en h he e s the i ve ie membe and elist e ih i le to the supporting beam in the channel, and (the Opening in h ie it membe he h siiflieieiitly large to permit an adjustment of the fastening,

means therein for clamping the supporting members parallel with the supporting beam without entirely disengaging the fastening means.

10. A metal joint member having a beam receiving channel with inwardly turned gripper edges, a web extending from the bottom of the channel with a central perforated portion and with flanged ends, wedging means at the opposite sides of the web for holding a support with one end against the under side of the channel and the other at a diverging angle, and an extension of the channel and web structure beyond the main joint portion at the side thereof,

11. In a structure in accordance with claim 10, having gripper edges adapted to forcibly engage the opposite sides of a beam to which it is applied, the web adjacent the channel of the extension having a boss by means of which the member is applied to and removed from beam engaging position.

12. A metal joint comprising a channel having inwardly turned gripper edges, a flanged frame extending therefrom having a large central opening and a reinforced marginal rim, the outer flange having outwardly extending teeth on opposite sides of the web and wedging surfaces adjacent the teeth and the end flanges, other wedging surfaces adjacent the flanges at the under side of the channel whereby supports are applied laterally to the sides of the web engaging the under side of the channel, the wedging surfaces and the teeth, and the supports on opposite sides are inclined outwardly from each other at their outer ends.

13. The combination with a metal joint member having a channel with inwardly extending gripper edges, and a perforated flanged web extending from the bottom thereof, theweb having teeth and wedging surfaces within the end flanges at each side thereof, a support applied to the outside of the member in engagement with the under side of the channel, the wedging surfaces and the teeth, a connecting beam grooved and engaged by the gripper edges when the joint member is applied thereto, and a fastening bolt inserted through supports at opposite sides of the joint member and permitting the disengagement of the support from the wedging surfaces and the teeth and a readjustment of the connected ends through the opening in the web without disconnecting the fastening bolt from the joint member or from the supports, whereby the supports may be adjusted and fastened in position parallel to the connecting beam which is engaged by the grippers, for compact folding and storage.

14. A metal joint member comprising a channel portion with inwardly turned sharp edges forming grippers to engage the opposite faces of a member inserted therebetween and having an integral supporting web below the channel portion with opposite side portions to engage supports applied laterally thereto and at an angle to each other below and in end contact with the outer side of the channel portion, and fastening means to engage the outer faces of supporting members and to hold them against the said web.

15. A metal joint member comprising a channel portion with inwardly turned sharp edges forming grippers applicable longitudinally to groove the opposite sides of a beam inserted therebetween, a median web below the channel portion with opposite engaging side portions having outwardly diverging wedging surfaces to engage the inner edges of supports applied laterally at an angle to the channel portion, and fastening means to engage the outer faces of supports and to press them against the said graduated wedging surfaces.

ALBERT J. MA'I'IER. 

